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The Self-Tuning Guitar
CowboyRobot writes "With the TransPerformance Performer you push a button to activate a mechanical re-tensioning of the strings to any of a few hundred tunings, 'accurate to within 2 cents over the entire tuning range', in a couple of seconds. They can even refit your existing guitar. There's a long audio interview with Jimmy Page on the site. It's funny to hear him speak."
I wonder how many guitarists will take to this since to them it is such and art and about what they hear. Can a computer really tune to the level that they can hear it needs to be tuned to for them?
Evolution or ID?
Hello, don't hate me for it, but I followed the link and read the story. Seems like the bridge is replaced by motors that tune the guitar by moving the bridge slightly, thus increasing or lowering the string tension. I can't speak for everyone, but I for one like my strings in a fixed position from the frets. I want the distance between the strings and the frets as small as possible. Does anyone else see a problem with that, since moving the bridge alters that distance? Or do you think those movements would be so subtle that one could hardly tell there was a movement at all?
This seems like a cool thing, but all it all I doubt seriously it'll catch on. Plus, I can't can't see anyone who can afford a $2k(US)+ guitar taking a chance at killing its resale value by doing this mod.
From their FAQ: Some wood is removed and replaced with the computer and mechanical device.
geeky stuff I'm proud to have been a part of: linux.com / themes.org / sourceforge.net / sicnus.com
...the locking nut whammy bar. The best invention since the electromagnetic pickup! Floyd Rose is a genius!
Most professionals (who make any sort of real income playing) have roadies who tune their guitars for them. That way they can have the roadie tune an extra guitar between songs and they can switch for the next song without delaying the show.
I think a lot of guitarists think of tuning as an annoyance, much like setting up amps and monitors. That being said, it's still cheaper and more efficient to buy 4 guitars for a thousand dollars each and have them tuned up for different songs than to spend 4000 on retrofitting a one thousand dollar guitar unless you change tunings during the song.
As anyone who has seen Jimmy Page live in the last 8 years or so can tell you, he uses the auto-tuner to change tunings in the middle of the song and even uses contant tuning changing as an "effect". Some of his effects would be otherwise impossible to create live.
Uninnovate - Only the finest in engineering.
Well I play bass and the best lesson I ever learned was to tune my Bass without any reference tone at all (think the tone in your head, then tune to it. To master this skill you constantly check it later to see how close you were). Practicing this exercise over and over forces you to learn the "notes" and not the positions.
Now when I hear pop songs I can determine every bass note played without having to have a bass in my hands. I can then go and play the song (not perfectly, practice is _always_ necessary) reasonably close. I cna listen to other musicians play and jump in with the my Bass without having to hunt around for the positions to match the notes I "hear" in my head. It makes me a better bass player overall.
If you let your students get away with tuning with digital tuners you are doing them no good. You should take the bass out of their hands, manually de-tune it and force them to tune it by ear before every lesson you give. See how dependant they are on the digital tuner after 5 lessons.
In the long run you will make them better bass players for it.
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